By John Davis

OPC Community Relations Director

 

For the seventh time since 2016, the Oxford Park Commission was awarded three, first-place plaques from the Mississippi Recreation and Parks Association at their annual conference.

The 2025 conference was hosted in Natchez, and it was headlined by Felisa McKnight winning the MRPA Professional of the Year award. Felisa serves the community as a Recreation Director at the OPC, leading all of the youth camps for the community, the League of Champions series that is designed for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges, as well as youth cheerleading.

“It was a total surprise when I heard my name called for Professional of the Year at the award dinner,” McKnight said. “It was great to have shared the moment with my husband and my fellow co-workers. I’m truly humbled to even have been considered for this award, and to win the award is so amazing. It’s truly an honor to have it, and to have served the community during my time with the Oxford Park Commission.”

Other OPC staff members that have won the Professional of the Year award in the last decade include Sam Pryor (2019) and Mike Young (2016).

The Hayward “Bo” Phillips Award of Merit was presented to the OPC for the basketball court/park located on South 18th Street. The OPC has won this particular category seven times since 2015. Some of the most notable of those wins include the Ulysses “Coach” Howell Center (2019), mTrade Park (2018) and the John Leslie Tennis Courts (2015).

Mark Levy, Director of Special Projects for the City of Oxford, led the project initiative that has served the local neighbors, and members of the Oxford community since its creation.

“It is truly an honor the City of Oxford to win the Hayward “Bo” Phillips Design Award of Merit for the basketball court on South 18th Street,” Levy said. “If you look at the legacy of projects that have been awarded in this category, such as the previously awarded Ulysses “Coach” Howell Activity Center, you will find some of the best examples of recreational facilities in the Southeast.

“The basketball court on South 18th is nothing special in terms of design, but is incredibly important for its social impact on the community.  Without a doubt, this basketball court is one of the most well-used parks in Oxford,” Levy added. “It accomplishes the intended goal to break social barriers and to serve a historically underserved demographic within our community.  The project is a testament to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen’s understanding of the value of public recreational facilities, and the role they play in unifying the community.”

Fishing guide Aaron Barton, owner and operator of Barton Outfitters, led youth fishing camps during the 2024 summer at Sardis Lake. His amazing skills, and unique approach to teaching about habitat and conservation while improving fishing skills, impressed the MRPA award committee. His camps were first in the Recreation Programming Award of Merit — Single Program category.

“This all started because I wanted my own kids to fish and would often have to invite their friends to convince them to have fun. To a child, they always did,” Barton said. “After honing in on techniques, times, and locations that worked with their abilities and attention, we decided to plug a hole we saw in outdoor programming for the young sportsmen and sportswomen of Lafayette County. We have been humbled by the response of parents and the community. We are proud to be a part of the city of Oxford’s award-winning recreation offering. Screens off, fish on.”

Barton’s win is the third one for the OPC in this category since 2016.